Elbaite

Elbaite is a colorful member of the tourmaline group of minerals. The name tourmaline comes from the Sinhalese word “turmali,” which applied to different gemstones found in Sri Lanka. Tourmaline gems cover the complete range of the color spectrum, but in exquisite shades unlike those of any other gem material. Although tourmaline is best known in shades of green and red or pink, it can also be blue, purple, yellow, brown, and colorless. Tourmaline comes in many color-specific varieties, including indicolite (blue), rubellite (red), Paraiba (neon blue), watermelon (pink surrounded by green), bi-colored (two colors in one crystal), and multi-colored (three or more colors in one crystal). Today Brazil is the largest producer of gem tourmaline; other important sources include Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Mozambique, Afghanistan, Tanzania, Russia, Malawi, Nigeria, Namibia, Zambia, the U.S. and elsewhere. This 21.90ct tourmaline from Mozambique is a fancy oval cut faceted by Insu Kang. The gem has an unusual peach color and was donated as a collection with five other Mozambique tourmalines.